Higley, Ken

• Name	Higley, Ken
  	20221224GHLn- Related to Potter County Higley's?
  Gender	Male
  achievement	Jun 1988	Julian, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA   [1]
  	Now the glider port boasts six world soaring records, 23 national records and all of the state records, said Higley, who set the state altitude record of 14,000 feet in June. He has owned the glider port since January.
  	20221224GHLn- STYLE IN FLIGHT WEDNESDAY,OCT.5,1988 16 Soaring Up in the clouds without an engine By LAUREN YOUNG Collegian Style Writer ... When Ken Higley, owner of the Julian Ridge Soaring Gliderport, harnessed me into the front seat of this two-seater glider, the caterpillars in my stomach turned into butterflies. A thin metal ring and a 200-foot rope connected our glider to the tow plane. As we sailed down the runway, the glider began to lift before the plane had even taken off. When the glider reached about 1,500ft., Higley told me to release the glider from the tow plane. I pulled at a yellow knob and we began to soar toward the ridge at our right as the tow plane went to the left. ... Now the glider port boasts six world soaring records, 23 national records and all of the state records, said Higley, who set the state altitude record of 14,000 feet in June. He has owned the glider port since January.
  Occupation	13 Jun 1988	Julian, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA
  	Owner/operator of Ridge Soaring Gliderport, with Mark Biseli (814)355-1792
  Person ID	I91386	WetzelFANcestry

  
  

• Event Map

  achievement - Now the glider port boasts six world soaring records, 23 national records and all of the state records, said Higley, who set the state altitude record of 14,000 feet in June. He has owned the glider port since January. - Jun 1988 - Julian, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA Occupation - Owner/operator of Ridge Soaring Gliderport, with Mark Biseli (814)355-1792 - 13 Jun 1988 - Julian, Centre, Pennsylvania, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		RSgldrpt 20221224GHLn- CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113321696 Ridge Soaring Gliderport in Julian, Centre County, PA, near Unionville. In 1988, the glider port boasts six world soaring records, 23 national records and all of the state records, said Higley, who set the state altitude record of 14,000 feet in June. He has…
  		Higley, Ken Ridge Soaring Gliderport 19881005 STYLE 20221224GHLn- STYLE IN FLIGHT WEDNESDAY,OCT.5,1988 16 Soaring Up in the clouds without an engine By LAUREN YOUNG Collegian Style Writer Gliderportcontainsamishmashofglidingparaphernaliaincludinga licenseplatethatreads:'Glider pilotskeepituplonger.'AreliefmapoftheAppalachianMountains,whichextendfromSouthern CanadatoNorthernAlabama,…

  
  

• Notes

  20221224GHLn- STYLE IN FLIGHT WEDNESDAY,OCT.5,1988 16 Soaring Up in the clouds without an engine By LAUREN YOUNG Collegian Style Writer Gliderportcontainsamishmashofglidingparaphernaliaincludinga licenseplatethatreads:'Glider pilotskeepituplonger.'AreliefmapoftheAppalachianMountains,whichextendfromSouthern CanadatoNorthernAlabama, coversonewallalongwiththe certificatesandtrophiescollected bylocalandvisitingfliers. Formorethan17years,gliding greenhornsandexpertshavebeen enjoyingthenaturalflyingchuteoftheAppalachianRidge."Wehavepeoplefromallovertheworldcomeheretofly,"Higley said. SOMEWHEREOVERTHEAPPALACHIANMOUNTAINS,Pa. Onacleardayyoucansee forever.Well.maybetoLockHaven. BeaverStadiumlookslikeasaucerandtheUniversityAirport isaPlayschoolsetwhenyouare soaring2.000feethighinaglider. ThesmallplanemovesincirclesaswefollowthreebabyGoldenEaglesmigratingSouthenroute toMiamiorwhereverbirdsgofor thewinter.Thepilotpointstothe mountainridgebelowus.Only fromthisheightcanoneappreciatethesurprisenestledontheridgeofthegreenmountainsa rockgardenreplicaofPennsylvania. Andtheydo.ThepageIlogged intointhevisitor'sbookwasalso signedbyflyersfromIndia,Brooklyn,LockHaven,NewZea-land,MaineandTexas. ???Themountainridgeisthemainattraction."Whenthewindblows outoftheNorthwestandintothe ridge,theairgetsdeflectedupwards,"explainedDavidFilberkleit,agliderenthusiastandthe port'spublicrelationsspecialist. Mostglidersdonothaveanengine.Instead,thesesmallplanesutilizeMotherNaturetostayinflight."Theridgehookstheairupwardandcreatesalittleareaofrisingair.Youcanride thatlittleareaofrisingairfor greatdistancestoWilliamsport, toTennessee.That'swhatridgesoaringisandwhyit'sworld-famous,"Filberkleitsaid. When Ken Higley, owner of the Julian Ridge Soaring Gliderport, harnessed me into the front seat of this two-seater glider, the caterpillars in my stomach turned into butterflies. A thin metal ring and a 200-foot rope connected our glider to the tow plane. As we sailed down the runway, the glider began to lift before the plane had even taken off. When the glider reached about 1,500ft., Higley told me to release the glider from the tow plane. I pulled at a yellow knob and we began to soar toward the ridge at our right as the tow plane went to the left. Almosteverydayisagoodflying day.Even"inthewintertimewhenyougetupbelowtheclouds, thewindishowlingandtherearelittlesnowflurries,weareoutthereflyingtheridge,"Higley said.ThebestpartoftheflyingseasonbeginsnowandwilllastuntiltheendofMay,hesaid. "Thisiswhypeopleinthespring Itwasnotuntilaftertheglider wasreleasedthatIrealizedwe wereupintheairwithoutanen•IN. Downontheground,themain officeoftheJulianRidgeSoaring andfallcomefromallovertheworldtoflyhere.IfyouliveinIndiana,Ohio,NorthernMaine, youmaynotbeabletofindtheconditionswhichenableyoutoflygreatdistances,"Fliberkleitsaid."It'sadifferentkindofflying,"headded."Ridgerunningisnot necessarilyrepresentativeofsoaringinthatitisaverysmall componentofwhatthesportisallabout. "Actuallywhensoaringfirststartedbackmany,manymoons ago,that'sexactlywhattheydidridgesoaring,"Higleyinter-jected."Thentheydiscoveredthermals." Thermalsarethenaturalbub-blesofhotaircreatedbythesun,hesaid.ThisheatingoftheEarth'ssurfaceallowsaglidertofloatupwards. "Youcanfeel(thermals).Alotoftimeswhenyouareflyinginabigairplaneandyouhitabump, ??? Multipleexposureofatwo-seatertrainersailplanebeingtowedaloft wellmanypeoplethinkthat'sanairpocket.Butit'sreallynotanairpocketatall,itisrisingairwhichisathermal." Notallthermalsarenatural,humanshelpmakewarmairtoo."ContinentalTrailerparksisagreathousethermal,"Higleysaid. In1968,KarlSteriedieck,alocalresident,"rediscovered"ridge soaring."Hewentoutandflewadistancetheysaidcouldn'tbedonewiththetypeofgliderhehadandhedidthatbecauseoftheridge," Higleysaid. Now the glider port boasts six world soaring records, 23 national records and all of the state records, said Higley, who set the state altitude record of 14,000 feet in June. He has owned the glider port since January. Allsortsoffriendlyflying-typeshangoutatthegliderport.Mike Ledet,aretiredTWAflightengi-neer,frequentsthegliderportreg-ularlyinhiswhiteaviationsuit.OthervisitorsincludeDorisGrove,aformerownerofthegliderportandholderofthewom-en'sdistanceworldrecord. FlyingtheridgefromWilliams-porttoKnoxville,TN.,takesabout10hourswhenthegliderismoving160mph.Longdistanceflightslikethisaretheresultyearsofflyingexperience,Filberkleitsaid. Soarerscancompeteatdiffer-entlevelsinregional,nationalandworldcompetitions."Alotofpeo-plecomeheretoapplytogettheirdifferentbadges,"Higleysaid.Thesportextendsitselftovaryinglevelsofdifficultyandbadgesreflecttheaccomplishmentofdif-ferenttasks. Althoughtherearearenomorethan20commercialgliderportsintheUnitedStates,soaringisgainingpopularityacrossthenation. CollegianPhotoICharlesBreiling TheSoaringSocietyofAmericahas20,000registeredmembers, Higleysaid.Buttherearemoresoaringenthusiaststhanthat."InEuropeeverythreepeople outoftenflygliders,itseemslike,"Higleysaid. ?IN? NowPennStatershavetheirclassesandsoartoo.ThroughthecooperationofJohnCampbell,aprofessorattheRo-chesterInstituteofTechnologyin Rochester,NY,thePennStateSoaringClubwasfoundedthis year.Campbell,aphysicistbytradeandasoarerbynature, spentthesummeratthegliderportasaflightinstructor.Camp-bellalsostartedsoaringclubsattheUniversityofMichiganandPrincetonUniversity,saidSteve Scott,presidentofthePennStateSoaringClub. OtherschoolsliketheUniversity PleaseseeGLIDER,Page17

  
  

• Sources

  [S252] newspaper clipping:, 1988-10-05. Ken Higley, STYLE- IN FLIGHT _WEDNESDAY, OCT.5,1988 16 Soaring Up in the clouds without an engine By LAUREN YOUNG Collegian Style Writer. Ken Higley (1) fact 20221224GHLn- 20221224GHLn- STYLE IN FLIGHT WEDNESDAY,OCT.5,1988 16 Soaring Up in the clouds without an engine By LAUREN YOUNG Collegian Style Writer Gliderportcontainsamishmashofglidingparaphernaliaincludinga licenseplatethatreads:'Glider pilotskeepituplonger.'AreliefmapoftheAppalachianMountains,whichextendfromSouthern CanadatoNorthernAlabama, coversonewallalongwiththe certificatesandtrophiescollected bylocalandvisitingfliers. Formorethan17years,gliding greenhornsandexpertshavebeen enjoyingthenaturalflyingchuteoftheAppalachianRidge."Wehavepeoplefromallovertheworldcomeheretofly,"Higley said. SOMEWHEREOVERTHEAPPALACHIANMOUNTAINS,Pa. Onacleardayyoucansee forever.Well.maybetoLockHaven. BeaverStadiumlookslikeasaucerandtheUniversityAirport isaPlayschoolsetwhenyouare soaring2.000feethighinaglider. ThesmallplanemovesincirclesaswefollowthreebabyGoldenEaglesmigratingSouthenroute toMiamiorwhereverbirdsgofor thewinter.Thepilotpointstothe mountainridgebelowus.Only fromthisheightcanoneappreciatethesurprisenestledontheridgeofthegreenmountainsa rockgardenreplicaofPennsylvania. Andtheydo.ThepageIlogged intointhevisitor'sbookwasalso signedbyflyersfromIndia,Brooklyn,LockHaven,NewZea-land,MaineandTexas. ???Themountainridgeisthemainattraction."Whenthewindblows outoftheNorthwestandintothe ridge,theairgetsdeflectedupwards,"explainedDavidFilberkleit,agliderenthusiastandthe port'spublicrelationsspecialist. Mostglidersdonothaveanengine.Instead,thesesmallplanesutilizeMotherNaturetostayinflight."Theridgehookstheairupwardandcreatesalittleareaofrisingair.Youcanride thatlittleareaofrisingairfor greatdistancestoWilliamsport, toTennessee.That'swhatridgesoaringisandwhyit'sworld-famous,"Filberkleitsaid. When Ken Higley, owner of the Julian Ridge Soaring Gliderport, harnessed me into the front seat of this two-seater glider, the caterpillars in my stomach turned into butterflies. A thin metal ring and a 200-foot rope connected our glider to the tow plane. As we sailed down the runway, the glider began to lift before the plane had even taken off. When the glider reached about 1,500ft., Higley told me to release the glider from the tow plane. I pulled at a yellow knob and we began to soar toward the ridge at our right as the tow plane went to the left. Almosteverydayisagoodflying day.Even"inthewintertimewhenyougetupbelowtheclouds, thewindishowlingandtherearelittlesnowflurries,weareoutthereflyingtheridge,"Higley said.ThebestpartoftheflyingseasonbeginsnowandwilllastuntiltheendofMay,hesaid. "Thisiswhypeopleinthespring Itwasnotuntilaftertheglider wasreleasedthatIrealizedwe wereupintheairwithoutanen•IN. Downontheground,themain officeoftheJulianRidgeSoaring andfallcomefromallovertheworldtoflyhere.IfyouliveinIndiana,Ohio,NorthernMaine, youmaynotbeabletofindtheconditionswhichenableyoutoflygreatdistances,"Fliberkleitsaid."It'sadifferentkindofflying,"headded."Ridgerunningisnot necessarilyrepresentativeofsoaringinthatitisaverysmall componentofwhatthesportisallabout. "Actuallywhensoaringfirststartedbackmany,manymoons ago,that'sexactlywhattheydidridgesoaring,"Higleyinter-jected."Thentheydiscoveredthermals." Thermalsarethenaturalbub-blesofhotaircreatedbythesun,hesaid.ThisheatingoftheEarth'ssurfaceallowsaglidertofloatupwards. "Youcanfeel(thermals).Alotoftimeswhenyouareflyinginabigairplaneandyouhitabump, ??? Multipleexposureofatwo-seatertrainersailplanebeingtowedaloft wellmanypeoplethinkthat'sanairpocket.Butit'sreallynotanairpocketatall,itisrisingairwhichisathermal." Notallthermalsarenatural,humanshelpmakewarmairtoo."ContinentalTrailerparksisagreathousethermal,"Higleysaid. In1968,KarlSteriedieck,alocalresident,"rediscovered"ridge soaring."Hewentoutandflewadistancetheysaidcouldn'tbedonewiththetypeofgliderhehadandhedidthatbecauseoftheridge," Higleysaid. Now the glider port boasts six world soaring records, 23 national records and all of the state records, said Higley, who set the state altitude record of 14,000 feet in June. He has owned the glider port since January. Allsortsoffriendlyflying-typeshangoutatthegliderport.Mike Ledet,aretiredTWAflightengi-neer,frequentsthegliderportreg-ularlyinhiswhiteaviationsuit.OthervisitorsincludeDorisGrove,aformerownerofthegliderportandholderofthewom-en'sdistanceworldrecord. FlyingtheridgefromWilliams-porttoKnoxville,TN.,takesabout10hourswhenthegliderismoving160mph.Longdistanceflightslikethisaretheresultyearsofflyingexperience,Filberkleitsaid. Soarerscancompeteatdiffer-entlevelsinregional,nationalandworldcompetitions."Alotofpeo-plecomeheretoapplytogettheirdifferentbadges,"Higleysaid.Thesportextendsitselftovaryinglevelsofdifficultyandbadgesreflecttheaccomplishmentofdif-ferenttasks. Althoughtherearearenomorethan20commercialgliderportsintheUnitedStates,soaringisgainingpopularityacrossthenation. CollegianPhotoICharlesBreiling TheSoaringSocietyofAmericahas20,000registeredmembers, Higleysaid.Buttherearemoresoaringenthusiaststhanthat."InEuropeeverythreepeople outoftenflygliders,itseemslike,"Higleysaid. ?IN? NowPennStatershavetheirclassesandsoartoo.ThroughthecooperationofJohnCampbell,aprofessorattheRo-chesterInstituteofTechnologyin Rochester,NY,thePennStateSoaringClubwasfoundedthis year.Campbell,aphysicistbytradeandasoarerbynature, spentthesummeratthegliderportasaflightinstructor.Camp-bellalsostartedsoaringclubsattheUniversityofMichiganandPrincetonUniversity,saidSteve Scott,presidentofthePennStateSoaringClub. OtherschoolsliketheUniversity PleaseseeGLIDER,Page17 Higley, Ken Ridge Soaring Gliderport 19881005 STYLE 20221224GHLn- STYLE IN FLIGHT WEDNESDAY,OCT.5,1988 16 Soaring Up in the clouds without an engine By LAUREN YOUNG Collegian Style Writer Gliderportcontainsamishmashofglidingparaphernaliaincludinga licenseplatethatreads:'Glider pilotskeepituplonger.'AreliefmapoftheAppalachianMountains,whichextendfromSouthern CanadatoNorthernAlabama,…

  
  

TEST MARKER

TNG ID: I91386